Sinter pallet

ABSTRACT

A plurality of short cover bars are attached to the top surface of the ribs of a sinter pallet by means of a two-inch diameter boss at the center of each cover bar that is plug welded to a rib; the remainder of each cover bar is spaced apart from the pallet rib.

Unite States Patent Reinield [111 3,834,684 [451 Sept. 10, 1974 SINTER PALLET [75] Inventor: Kurt Reinfeld, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh,

[22] Filed: May 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1 357,364

[52] US. Cl. 266/21 [51] Int. Cl. F27b 21/02 [58] Field of Search 266/20, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS $038,712

6/1962 Nagel et al 266/21 3,199,856 8/1965 Huffman et al 266/2l 3,559,967 2/1971 Werner 266/21 3,638,928 2/1972 Mitchell 266/21 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sherman H. Barber; Olin E. Williams; Oscar B. Brumback [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of short cover bars are: attached to the top surface of the ribs of a sinter pallet by means of a twoinch diameter boss at the center of each cover bar that is plug welded to a rib; the remainder of each cover bar is spaced apart from the pallet rib.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing [Figures I Z/ l I u IL LI SINTER PALLET BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Pallets for sintering machines that are known from the prior art experience considerable sagging after some period of time in use, and this causes interference with the end dead plates. Sagging is caused by overheating the top flange surfaces of the pallet while the bottom surfaces remain relatively cool. The hot top surfaces try to expand thermally, but they are restricted by the cooler lower portion. Whereupon, upsetting of the top flange surfaces results. When the top surfaces cool, they become shortened in length, thereby producing a downward bowing or sagging of the pallet.

The present improvement in sinter pallet construction includes a plurality of short, sectional cover bars, each about two feet long, that are plug welded, preferably, to the top flange of the pallet ribs. The plug weld is located at the center of each cover bar, and the cover bar is otherwise spaced apart from the pallet rib. These cover bars act as heat shields for the pallet ribs, whereby overheating and sagging of the pallet is reduced and practically eliminated.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following description and the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of equipment in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a pallet for a sintering machine incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view along line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, at an enlarged scale, of an embodiment of the present invention as installed on a pallet rib; and

FIG. 4 is a view along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A pallet frame 11, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a plurality of elongate ribs 13 that are interconnected by a plurality of intercostal webs 15, a plurality of grate bars 17, and pallet side frames 19 (only one side frame being shown).

Each rib 13 comprises an I-beam-like member that carries on its top flange 21 a plurality of short sectional cover bars 23. Each cover bar is provided with a boss 25, and such boss is bored, as at 27, so that each cover bar 23 can be secured to the top flange 21 by means of plug welding 29, or in any other suitable manner, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The boss 25 is located at the mid-length point of each cover bar 23 and is about 2 inches in diameter in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The cover bar itself 23 is about 2 feet long and onehalf inch thick, and is otherwise spaced apart from the flange 21 a distance of about one-fourth of an inch, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. A space of about one-fourth inch is provided between the ends of adjacent cover bars 23 to permit them to thermally expand when the sinter pallet is in use. The two top corners 31 of each cover bar are chamfered, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the remaining top surface area of each bar that contacts and supports the grate bars 17 resting thereon is minimal. Thus, there is a minimum of heat conduction to the cover bar from the grate bars 17. Likewise, because each cover bar contacts the rib of the pallet only at the boss 25, the amount of heat conducted to the rib is also minimal.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art should recognize many important features and advantages of it, among which the following are particularly significant:

That, because the cover bars are segmented, each such bar is free to expand thermally and to contract without stressing the ribs or the pallet itself; and

That the temperature gradient across the cover bar itself, which is about one-half inch thick, will not develop enough thermal stress to significantly distort the cover bar on each side of the boss; wherefore, the thermally expanded cover bars will not bind and hinder movement of the grate bars.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example, and the the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sintering pallet having a frame comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart ribs for supporting grate bars, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of elongate narrow bars atop said rib with each elongate bar having an integral boss that is secured with a rib and maintains each elongate bar in spaced-apart relation to said rib.

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. a plurality of such elongate bars so mounted to each one of said ribs.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. each elongate bar has a minimal surface area in contact with said rib; and

b. said elongate bar has a minimal surface area in contact with said grate bars.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said boss is located at the mid-length location of each elongate bar.

5. In a sintering pallet having a frame comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart ribsfor supporting grate bars, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of elongate narrow members mounted individually to each one of said ribs, each such member having an integral boss at the mid-length location thereof that is plug welded to said rib with each member being spaced apart from an adjacent member and from said rib; and with b. said member having a minimal surface in contact with said grate bars resting thereon. 

1. In a sintering pallet having a frame comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart ribs for supporting grate bars, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of elongate narrow bars atop said ribs with each elongate bar having an integral boss that is secured with a rib and maintains each elongate bar in spaced-apart relation to said rib.
 2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. a plurality of such elongate bars so mounted to each one of said ribs.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. each elongate bar has a minimal surface area in contact with said rib; and b. said elongate bar has a minimal surface area in contact with said grate bars.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said boss is located at the mid-length location of each elongate bar.
 5. In a sintering pallet having a frame comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart ribs for supporting grate bars, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of elongate narrow members mounted individually to each one of said ribs, each such member having an integral boss at the mid-length location thereof that is plug welded to said rib with each member being spaced apart from an adjacent member and from said rib; and with b. said member having a minimal surface in contact with said grate bars resting thereon. 